THE WATER CYCLE

By Golam Khan

 Content
Grade

Area: Science

Level: 4th Grade

Summary:

The purpose of this instruction presentation

is to teach about the steps of the water cycle.

Learning

Objective: Recognize the major components

of the water cycle.

Standard:

Prepare a model that illustrates the basic

features of the water cycle.

Accomplishment:

Be able to identify and explain the

steps of the water cycle.

WHAT IS IT?

the

cycle of processes by which water circulates

between the earth's oceans, atmosphere, and land,
involving precipitation as rain and snow, drainage in
streams and rivers, and return to the atmosphere by
evaporation and transpiration.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?

WHAT ARE THE 3 PHASES OF THE

WATER CYCLE?
Precipitation:

Rain, sleet, snow, hail, ice falling from the

sky onto the surface.

Condensation:

takes place when water vapor in the

air condenses from a gas, back into a liquid form, and
leaves the atmosphere, returning to the surface of the
Earth.

Evaporation:

The process of water molecules escaping

the surface of the Earth and entering the atmosphere

PRECIPITATION
Precipitation

is water in either solid or liquid form that

falls from Earth's atmosphere.

Major

forms of precipitation include rain, snow, and

hail. When air is lifted in the atmosphere, it expands
and cools.

What does it look like?

CONDENSATION

Usually

in order for condensation to take place, the

atmosphere must be fully saturated. In other words,
the maximum vapor pressure must have been
reached.

Naturally,

water needs a surface to land on once

turning into liquid. These could be blades of grass,
windows, etc.

What

does it look like?

EVAPORATION

Evaporation

occurs because all molecules of all

substances are constantly in motion.

Molecules at the surface that pick up energy from

other molecules begin to travel faster. Eventually, they
may be able to travel fast enough to escape from the
surface of the water or to evaporate from the water.

What

does it look like?

WHICH PHASE OF THE WATER CYCLE IS

WHEN LIQUID TURNS TO GAS?
A.

Evaporation

B.

Condensation

C.

Precipitation

 If

you answered A. Evaporation you are correct!

Evaporation

is the stage of the water cycle in which

liquid turns back into gas, due to heat and other
factors.

The

molecules are moving so fast, that some of them

are energized enough to leave the surface of the
water, and into the air

DURING CONDENSATION, WHAT DOES

THE ATMOSPHERE NEED TO BE LIKE?

A.

It needs to be very dry

B.

It needs to be raining or snowing

C.

It needs to be very saturated and humid

 If

you answered C. It needs to be very saturated and

humid you are correct!

In

order for condensation to take place, the air

needs to be saturated.

the nature of water requires that there be a

surface upon which water can condense.

SUMMARY
We

have learned today that there are 3 major stages

of the water cycle: Precipitation, condensation, and
evaporation

Precipitation

is when liquid or solid falls from the

atmosphere to the surface

Condensation
Evaporation

is when gas turns back into liquid

is when liquid turns into gas